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Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat

Assam Agricultural University is the first institution of its kind in the whole of North-Eastern Region of India. The main goal of this institution is to produce globally competitive human resources in farm sectorand to carry out research in both conventional and frontier areas for production optimization as well as to disseminate the generated technologies as public good for benefitting the food growers/produces and traders involved in the sector while emphasizing on sustainability, equity and overall food security at household level. Genesis of AAU - The embryo of the agricultural research in the state of Assam was formed as early as 1897 with the establishment of the Upper Shillong Experimental Farm (now in Meghalaya) just after about a decade of creation of the agricultural department in 1882. However, the seeds of agricultural research in today’s Assam were sown in the dawn of the twentieth century with the establishment of two Rice Experimental Stations, one at Karimganj in Barak valley in 1913 and the other at Titabor in Brahmaputra valley in 1923. Subsequent to these research stations, a number of research stations were established to conduct research on important crops, more specifically, jute, pulses, oilseeds etc. The Assam Agricultural University was established on April 1, 1969 under The Assam Agricultural University Act, 1968’ with the mandate of imparting farm education, conduct research in agriculture and allied sciences and to effectively disseminate technologies so generated. Before establishment of the University, there were altogether 17 research schemes/projects in the state under the Department of Agriculture. By July 1973, all the research projects and 10 experimental farms were transferred by the Government of Assam to the AAU which already inherited the College of Agriculture and its farm at Barbheta, Jorhat and College of Veterinary Sciences at Khanapara, Guwahati. Subsequently, College of Community Science at Jorhat (1969), College of Fisheries at Raha (1988), Biswanath College of Agriculture at Biswanath Chariali (1988) and Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science at Joyhing, North Lakhimpur (1988) were established. Presently, the University has three more colleges under its jurisdiction, viz., Sarat Chandra Singha College of Agriculture, Chapar, College of Horticulture, Nalbari & College of Sericulture, Titabar. Similarly, few more regional research stations at Shillongani, Diphu, Gossaigaon, Lakhimpur; and commodity research stations at Kahikuchi, Buralikson, Tinsukia, Kharua, Burnihat and Mandira were added to generate location and crop specific agricultural production packages.

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20211
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Subject: Home Science × Author: Baruah, Inameeka ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    EFFECT OF BANDHAN MICROFINANCE ON EMPOWERMENT OF RURAL WOMEN IN TINSUKIA DISTRICT OF ASSAM
    (AAU, Jorhat, 2021) Baruah, Inameeka; Bora, Mayuri
    The study on Effect of Bandhan Microfinance on empowerment of rural women in Tinsukia district of Assam was conducted with the objective (i) To develop a complete understanding of members of Bandhan groups, (ii) To study the functioning of Bandhan microfinance, (iii) To identify the problems faced by the respondents after availing the microfinance services (iv) To assess the effect of Bandhan microfinance on empowerment of rural women. The present study was conducted in Tinsukia district of Assam. Margherita Sub-division, was purposively selected from where two Bandhan banking units i.e., Banking Unit, Digboi and Banking Unit, Margherita was included. 108 respondents were selected using purposive cum simple random sampling method. The study revealed that 60.00 per cent of the respondents were in middle age group 35 – 47 years. It was found that 41.68 per cent had farming as their family occupation, 30.55 per cent did business and majority of the respondent (73.05%) were housewives. About 49.70 per cent respondents were members of the Bandhan group for 1-5 years which depicts their trust towards Bandhan Microfinance. Majority of respondents (70.37%) joined Bandhan group to maintain their household expenditure. High percentage of respondents (78.70%) have taken loan from Bandhan microfinance for starting new business of livestock at household level as they possessed 89.91 per cent of poultry birds and the respondents utilized their loan in business purpose as well. It was revealed from the findings that large percentage (71.00%) respondents belonged to medium socio-economic category. As only 31.48 per cent and 20.30 per cent had knowledge about the terms of repayment and the interest rate respectively so, the most common problem faced by the respondent after availing the loan from Bandhan microfinance services is short period for repayment and not clear about the interest rate. The findings also revealed that there was significant improvement in economic, psychological, personal and socio-cultural empowerment whereas there was less improvement in terms of political empowerment after availing loan from Bandhan Microfinance services. There was also an overall increase in the level of empowerment of rural women after availing the Bandhan Microfinance services. In the study a positive significant relationship can also be seen between the socio-economic status and the empowerment of rural women. Thus, Bandhan microfinance has significantly contributed towards the empowerment of the rural women in the study area. Therefore, Proper training should be given to the rural people regarding the terms, conditions, the bank loan formalities and the interest charged on the loans should be reduced to encourage and attract new customers. Further research should be done considering other microfinance related issues and how these issues affect the empowerment of rural women.